Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 31: A protester was killed and over 50 others were injured in clashes across Kashmir while protesters torched house of Member Parliament in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district amid shutdown that paralysed life in Kashmir for 54th day today.
Army allegedly fired at protesters in Ladoora area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district this morning killing one protester and injuring five others. Condition of two injured is said to be critical and they have been admitted in Srinagar’s SKIMS hospital.
Massive protests broke out at Ladoora after Army allegedly thrashed some traders at Fruit Mandi Sopore in North Kashmir. Reports said that the Army personnel went inside Sopore Fruit Mandi and asked the traders to resume their trade and it led to a verbal brawl between the two sides and the locals later protested against the Army.
The protests were followed by violent clashes against the alleged thrashing of traders by army at Ladoora, a village in Rafiabad area of Sopore where from majority of the traders hail. A contingent of Army and BSF went to Ladoora to quell the protests.
During the clashes, the security forces personnel opened fire on protesters, resulting in injuries to six persons. One of them identified as Danish Manzoor of Nadihal, Baramulla succumbed to his injuries while two others identified as Idrees Altaf Malik and Ishaaq Bashir Lone are critical and were shifted to SKIMS in Soura.
As the news about the death of Danish spread, hundreds of people took to streets at Old Town Baramulla, Sopore and Bandipora and staged massive protests. The protesters clashed with the security forces at several places including Kaloosa in Bandipora. Police and para-military security forces fired teargas and pellets to disperse the protesters.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan in a statement issued here said: “As per a report from the police, a mob of more than 900 people attacked an Army convoy at Ladoora, Rafiabad and amidst stone pelting some shots were fired on the Army convoy on way to Kupwara.”
“The Army fired some rounds in air to disperse the mob. In the incident 4 persons were injured and one of the injured identified as Danish Manzoor Lone S/o Manzoor Ahmed Lone R/o Nadihal, Sopore succumbed to injuries. Police have initiated investigation in the matter,” the statement said.
Protesters in South Kashmir’s Chawalgam village of Kulgam district today attacked the residence of PDP Member of Parliament, Nazir Ahmad Laway, and set ablaze guard room and house and decamped with four rifles of security guards.
The house of MP Nazir Laway, who is the Member of Rajya Sabha in Parliament, was attacked by a group of violent protesters when clashes were going on at Chawalgam in Kulgam.
The protesters set ablaze a guard room and house of the MP and decamped with four rifles of policemen who were guarding Laway’s residence. The police guards escaped from the guard room before protesters set it ablaze.
In Srinagar, the authorities today lifted curfew from entire Old City but security forces were deployed in some sensitive areas to prevent protests. Protesters, however, erected barricades and blocked the roads to prevent movement of traffic.
Thousands of people assembled at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta and took out a protest march towards Lal Chowk but it was intercepted at Khanyar by police and CRPF. Police and CRPF fired teargas and pepper gas to foil the protest march. Protests later also broke out in parts of Old City and continued till evening.
In South Kashmir, the authorities today foiled a protest march at Aishmuqam and around 17 persons were injured as clashes broke out between security forces and protesters. Police fired pellets and teargas to foil the march.
Authorities in Kulgam district also foiled protest rally at Katroosa and raided the venue of rally and arrested one Irshad Ahmad of Jogipora.
In Murran area of Pulwama, protesters pelted stones at Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) vehicles when they were on way to Government Higher Secondary School today to establish a camp there. The security forces fired tear gas and pellets during which several protesters were injured.
Clashes broke out in North Kashmir’s Natnoosa village of Kupwara district between locals and CRPF personnel when the security force personnel allegedly damaged some houses and thrashed locals. The protesters chased the CRPF men who later took shelter in a Pandit migrant camp. The protesters targeted the CRPF in the camp and reports said that they later entered into the camp and ransacked it. They broke some windows and doors and also set ablaze bedding of few rooms. The guards present inside the camp fired in air to disperse the protesters.
Clashes erupted in Kupwara, Handwara, Drugmulla and other areas of district Kupwara and security forces fired teargas and pellets to disperse them. Over a dozen protesters were injured after security forces tear gas and pellet firing.
Meanwhile, life across the Valley remained paralysed and all commercial activities remained disrupted for 54th day today. Schools, colleges remained shut, Government offices and banks had skeletal staff. The public transport was off the roads with some private vehicles plying in civil lines area. Shops and other commercial establishments opened in Lal Chowk and many other areas of Srinagar after 6 pm today.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 54th day today while mobile internet and pre-paid mobile services continued to be shut down across Kashmir to prevent further violence.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan said: “Curfew was today lifted from Nowhatta and Maharjgunj areas of Srinagar. With this, curfew has now been lifted from entire Kashmir valley as no area in any district of valley is under restrictions.”
He said increased movement of vehicular traffic and public was today witnessed in almost all towns, major areas and Srinagar city as well. “Barring stray stone pelting incidents the situation remained peaceful across the Valley,” he said.
In the meantime, four people have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). Senior Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, Ghulam Mohammad Hubbi of Chrar-e-Shareef, Tehreek Hurriyat activist Tariq Ganai of Shopian, Irshad Ahmad Malla of Sangran Shopian and Bilal War of Heerpora Shopian were booked under PSA.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said events today show that Kashmir is still in deep crisis.
Reacting to setting on fire, ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Member of Parliament (MP) Nazir Laway’s house in south Kashmir district of Kulgam, Abdullah said things have taken an ugly turn today.
“PDP RS MP’s house set on fire. Weapons reportedly looted after guards run away. Far from getting better things have taken an ugly turn today,” Abdullah, who is the working president of main opposition National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
“Even though things looked calmer on the surface in Civil Lines areas of Srinagar, events today show that Valley is still in deep crisis,” he added.
Meanwhile, reacting to reports that there are no plans to replace Governor N N Vohra as of now, Abdullah said that at this time clarity and certainty is needed in Kashmir.
“The problem with the ‘as of now’ formulation is the uncertainty it creates at a time when clarity/certainty needed,” he wrote on twitter.
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